If you could...

Kath · Post by **Kath** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:24 am

1) If you could become President, with a great deal of power to effect change in the world, but you knew that in your last year in office, you would be assassinated... Would you do it? why or why not?

2) If you could be immortal, live forever, with the only catch that every christmas eve you had to stomp a little girl's pet kitten to death in front of her crying eyes... would you do it? why or why not?

3) If you could flip a coin, and if it lands heads you would have all of your life's dreams and goals, no matter how grand or unlikely, guaranteed to happen for you, but if it lands tails you'd drop dead of a heart attack... would you flip the coin? why or why not?

4) If you died and it turned out there was actually a 'hell' with torture and fire and eternal suffering, etc. And for whatever reason, you were there, being torn to bits over and over with no hope of ever ever getting away. But the devil offered you one year of freedom from hell for every person you lured into damnation for him... would you do it? why or why not?

5) If you knew that doing a certain thing was the right thing to do, even though every other living person in the world thought it was wrong, and they would all (even those closest to you) shun you, judge you, and refuse to associate with you for the rest of your days because of it... would you do what you thought was right? why or why not?

Asarial · Post by **Asarial** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:38 am

1.) No because there's always the chance that the next nimrod that gets elected after you will just undo everything you did.
2.) Depends. If it's one of those snot-nosed brat, whiny kids who never shuts up in the store I work at, then gladly. Otherwise, no.
3.) I make it a point to not have goals, thus sparing me the disappointment that comes from not achieving them. But just for shits and giggles, yeah. I have nothing left to lose.
4.) Without getting into the messy details of what I believe hell to be, yes. Not for my getting out of hell. I just want to see if I could succeed. You can't force someone to do something they aren't already inclined to do. Strong-willed people have the power to resist temptation.
5.) Absolutely. I am very loud and blunt about my opinions and I often come across as callous without meaning to be. I have always gone out of my way to stand up for what I believe in and stand up for others when people are trying to tear them down. I have an almost sociopathic ability to find at a glance where someone's weaknesses lie. So when they act like a bully, I flaunt their weaknesses, knock them down and impale them with their holy cross they clutch to for stability. I stand for everything and nothing all at the same time. I may not like what someone believes, but it is only their opinion and I would never rape it from them. Any opinion or act that doesn't harm anyone is fine with me.

Honest_John · Post by **Honest_John** » Sat May 02, 2009 10:50 pm

Well Kath, I'd say a great thing to do is to first answer those questions yourself, I love to fish too but I do it at the lake.

Kath · Post by **Kath** » Sun May 03, 2009 12:17 pm

hehe, ok i'll answer them for myself...

1) nope, don't care about the world enough to die for it. And I don't think much of anything will ultimately save the hairless apes from themselves. not even the ones with digital watches.

2) possibly, on a rational level I'd say "yes"... but faced with the reality of the action? i dunno if I'd actually follow through, probably I couldn't.

3) I'd seriously consider flipping the coin. I have 'big' dreams... death is inevitable... a 50/50 shot at nearly impossible dreams vs. dying (something I'll do eventually anyway)... I lean towards flipping the coin.

4) No. But not because I'm so philanthropic, just because it's nearly impossible to get me to do anything by coercion or force. In fact, the devil might be able to get me to tempt other souls into hell by telling me he forbids to do such a thing. Also, related but less important, I'm not very impressed by things like pain or fear.

5) Depends on the scope of the thing. If for example, we're talking about jaywalking, and say the rest of the world holds some very strong views about jaywalking... I'd just go with the flow, ya know? If we're talking about something more important, something with great moral or emotional urgency... I'd tell the rest of the world to fuck off, and do what I thought I should.
In fact, I already have done this.
and no I'm not going to explain myself and bring more of that shunning to this nicely anonymous venue

Shaam · Post by **Shaam** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:11 pm

1) Would depend on what great power I had that could change the world that came with a guarantee...lol.
2) No...I couldn't live with myself forever...or even just for a little bit...if I did that....
3) I'd flip that coin. Life is not a guarantee anyway. Even with the promise...I could die in the next minute.
4) I might...not sure if I'm that much of a martyr to say no. Some people already have one foot in Hell anyway... would have to cross that bridge when I got to it...lol.
5) I would do what I felt was right,...have before.

Mist · Post by **Mist** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:08 pm

1) I wouldn't do it because political power is nothing compared to the power of knowledge.

2) I wouldn't want to be immortal for the sole reason that I don't want to live forever. I wouldn't want to face this world's stupidity for longer than 100 years.

3) I wouldn't flip the coin because hopes dreams and goals are worth more when you worked for them yet death is around every corner anyway.

4) I would do it. Sounds fun.

5) I would still do what I thought was right if I knew I had carefully thought it over and understood why other people would shun me for it.

Post by **Venefica** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:42 pm

1) If you could become President, with a great deal of power to effect change in the world, but you knew that in your last year in office, you would be assassinated... Would you do it? why or why not?

I would not do it. First of all I do not do self sacrifice, I am to selfish for that, secondly I do not think I have the patience, nor understanding for how things fit together to be a good President.

2) If you could be immortal, live forever, with the only catch that every christmas eve you had to stomp a little girl's pet kitten to death in front of her crying eyes... would you do it? why or why not?

If there was no other way I could become immortal yes I would do it, but it would not be the method I would prefer. I love kittens.

3) If you could flip a coin, and if it lands heads you would have all of your life's dreams and goals, no matter how grand or unlikely, guaranteed to happen for you, but if it lands tails you'd drop dead of a heart attack... would you flip the coin? why or why not?

No I would not do it. I am not a gambler.

4) If you died and it turned out there was actually a 'hell' with torture and fire and eternal suffering, etc. And for whatever reason, you were there, being torn to bits over and over with no hope of ever ever getting away. But the devil offered you one year of freedom from hell for every person you lured into damnation for him... would you do it? why or why not?

I would do it. I might not like it, but I do put my self before random people, though I am sure I would have to get to know them to lure them to hell, still, I put myself first and others second.

5) If you knew that doing a certain thing was the right thing to do, even though every other living person in the world thought it was wrong, and they would all (even those closest to you) shun you, judge you, and refuse to associate with you for the rest of your days because of it... would you do what you thought was right? why or why not?

That depends on what it was. For some things yes, for others things no.

Occultussanctum · Post by **Occultussanctum** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:28 pm

1. If i could be come president, but knew i was going to be assassinated, i'd probably decline the opportunity because in a place with that kind of position yes I would have power, however things take time to complete so anything i would start i wouldnt be able to see or enjoy the finish of.

2. If i could be immortal, well. I hate christmas so thats a bonus, kittens though are adorable, however an immortal entity's gotta do what an immortal entity's gotta do, so someone better put on some good stompin music...

3. As far as flippin the coin, sure why not i'm a gamblin man. Nothing at risk, nothing to lose, but when its all or nothing, that all sounds better than what i got without it which is NOTHING! lmao

4. A years freedom from torment and damnation at the cost of another suffering eternally in agony. Maybe its just the morbid side of me coming out. but i'd be the devil's messenger...

5. This is a tough one, because it could be taken so many different directions with what people may think is right or wrong to begin with. I would assume though because of how much i trust my judgement most of the time whatever I would be trying to do would be correct to me, so then yes I believe I would follow through reguardless of the opinions of others. Much better to feel in the right and be shunned, than to be in the wrong and accepted...

That was fun. Good post Kath.

spazmagoog · Post by **spazmagoog** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:58 am

1. No. A position of social authority isn't necessarily a prerequisite to effecting desired change. In fact, it could conceivably be a handicap. I won't need that kind of status to achieve any of the things I want to do in this lifetime. I'd turn the position down even if I wasn't to be assassinated.

2. No. I don't care so much about the kid, but I couldn't do that to a kitten. I love cats. Besides, I don't want to live in this body forever.

3. No. Much of the joy that comes from realising your dreams is the satisfaction that comes from getting there on your own steam and the experience you gained along the way. Gaining it all by flipping a coin would rob me of that.

4. No. What difference does a year make in eternity anyway? Or a thousand years, or a billion? No finite measure of break time would have any impact on an infinity of torture.

5. Yes. Nobody ever achieved greatness without pissing a lot of people off. I'd rather do what I feel is right and have everyone else hate me than live against my beliefs and hate myself for it.

alex nero · Post by **alex nero** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:28 am

1)I would do it if I had two terms,and it's just as well I'd be killed because the things I would do would indeed get me killed! But yes for the power,er,um,the power to make the nation better would make it worth it. 2) No problem with the kitten,but who wants to live forever? After you'd done and seen it all,then what? Eternal boredom? No thanks! 3) I'd flip,why not life is short take a chance! 4) I would damn an eternity of people---gotta look out for number one! 5) I always do what I think is right,regardless of the world.This is why I take responsibility for my actions.